PRACTICAL PASTURE IMPROVEMENT METHODS

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PRACTICAL PASTURE IMPROVEMENT METHODS

• Jerry Lindquist
• MSU County Extension Director
• Osceola County

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Benefits of Pasture

• Low labor costs to feed animals
• Low depreciation cost on equipment
• Can be high quality feed
• Healthy environment for cows
• Total pasture feed costs usually under
  0.75/cow/day vs. feeding hay 1.05/hd/day for
  beef cows

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Managed Intensive Grazing Advantages

• We control where animals graze
• Increases yield
• Increase carrying capacity
• Extend grazing season in the fall
• Increases forage quality
• Increases animal performance
• Lowers cost of production

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Paddock Design
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Paddock Layout - Getting Started

• There Are No Universal Systems
• Put It On Paper First!!!

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Paddock Layout Basics

• Establish At Least 8 Paddocks (87 rest period)
• Keep Paddocks Close To Square
• Keep Paddocks Similar In Size
• Maintain Flexibility In Your Design
• Water Should Be No Further Than 800 ft.

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Paddock Layout Basics

• Water In Every Paddock
• Graze Paddock No Longer Than - 7 days for beef 2
  days for dairy

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Paddock Layout Considerations

• Soil Type
• Lay Of The Land
• Forage Make-up
• Water Availability
• Waterline Layout
• Ability To Harvest Hay Mechanically

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Paddock Layout Considerations

• Ease Of Moving Cattle To Any Paddock
• Locate Alleyways On Higher, Drier Soil

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Paddock Sizing

• 500 x .0325 16.25 lbs DM / Head / Day
• 80 hd. x 16.25 lbs 1,300 lbs of DM / Day
• 1 grass 120 - 220 lbs of DM / Acre
• 8 x 180 lbs 1,140 lbs of DM / Acre
• 1,440 x 78 utilization 1,123 lbs / Acre
• 1,300 x 5 days 6,500 lbs of DM
• 6,500 lbs of DM / 1,123 lbs / Acre 5.8

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0 rest
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50 rest
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75 rest
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83 rest
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88 rest
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96 rest
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Pasture Improvement Where to Start

• 1.) Soil test ! Provide minimum fertility.
• 2.) Fertilize with 100 N in early spring.
• 3.) Control weeds if necessary.
• 4.) Sub-divide pasture. Use MIG.

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Pasture Improvement Year 2 Beyond

• 5.) Add improved forage species.
• 6.) Enhance soil fertility to optimum levels.
• 7.) Late summer N addition.
• 8.) Add more improved forage species as
  needed.
• 9.) Enjoy life !

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Minimum Soil Fertility Levels

• pH 6.2
• phosphorus 80 LB.
• potassium 200 LB.
• magnesium 100 LB.

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Current Economics of Pasture Fertilization

• Jerry Lindquist
• County Extension Director
• Michigan State University Extension

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Nitrogen On Grass, 10 Year Avg. 1968-1977, Lake
City Exp. Station, MSU

• N Applied Avg. Yield Range
• 0 1.99 0.88-2.51
• 50 spring 2.88 1.61-3.82
• 100 split 3.54 2.12-5.20
• 200 split 4.38 3.12-6.03
• grass/leg. 4.07 2.92-6.01

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Nitrogen On Grass, 10 Year Avg. 1968-1977, Lake
City Exp. Stn.

• N Applied Increase Cost of
• 
  Extra Yield
  
• 0 - -
• 50 spring 0.89 35.39/ton
• 100 split 1.55 36.45/ton
• 200 split 2.39 44.56/ton
• grass/leg. 2.08 3.26/ton

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Nitrogen on Grass Details

• Included two drought years and two very wet years
• Soil was a loamy sand
• Split N rates were applied in early May late
  June utilizing urea both times
• Economic analysis projected with 2007 fertilizer
  price of 480/ton for urea
• Grass legume mix was frosted seeded with red
  clover every 4th year, 8/acre, current cost of
  19/acre/year

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Osceola Poultry Litter Trial

• Applied fertilizer 5/3/2006
• Harvest 1st cutting as round bales 6/26/2006
• Measured 2nd cutting pasture growth 9/7/2006 just
  before grazing with rising pasture plate meter
• Did not measure later fall growth

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Product Applied To Fertilizer Plot

• 75 /acre of 0-0-60
• 25/acre of 11-52-0
• 66/acre of 46-0-0

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Product Applied to Plots with Litter

• Poultry compost 1cubic yard per acre
• Poultry litter 1 ton per acre
• Turkey litter 1 ton per acre

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Poultry Litter Test Plot Results
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Broadleaf Weed Control

• Control before adding seed.
• Watch grazing restriction interval.
• Consult with extension agent or herbicide
  specialist.
• 1 qt./acre of 2,4-D ester or
• 1 qt./acre of Banvel or
• 1 1/2 pt of 2,4-D ester 1/2 pt. Banvel per acre

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Plant Post (first) Not Seed

• Sub-division provides rest.
• Rest provides better growth stocking rates.

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Adding Improved Forage Specie

• Grass is the foundation !
• Legumes are the catalyst the cream on the top.
• Legumes should be 20 - 40 of stand.
• More than 40 bloat, lower gain, lower
  conception rates.

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FROST SEEDINGAdding new seed to a pasture
or hayfield by broadcasting on frozen ground in
early spring letting frost snow incorporate.
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FROST SEEDING

• Improves Pasture Quality Yield
• Lower Cost Than Annual Nitrogen Application (9
  vs. 42)
• Works Best On Loams Clay Soils or Fields With
  Natural Moisture
• Clovers Recommended, Birdsfoot Trefoil Certain
  Grasses Can Work

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FROST SEEDING

• Use Improved Varieties i.e. Clovers Like
  Arlington, Cimmeron, or Marathon and High
  Yielding Trefoils Like Norcen
• Graze Tight In The Fall
• Broadcast Inoculated Seed Approx. 45 Days Before
  Grass Growth Begins - Best On Snow

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FROST SEEDING

• Broadcast 6 - 10 of Red Clover 8 - 12 of
  Trefoil or 2 - 4 of White Clover /acre
• Dont Mix Clover Trefoil
• For Insurance Apply 40 / Acre of Actual
  Phosphorus (90 / Acre of 0-46-0 )
• Lime or Potassium May Be Needed - Soil Test To
  Determine - Dont Apply Nitrogen!

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FROST SEEDING

• Let Grow To 8 Inches Graze, Let Grow To 8
  Inches Graze Again.
• Do everything right then pray for rain!!!

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Enhance Fertility To Optimum Level

• pH 6.8
• phosphorus 150 lb./acre
• potassium 250 lb./acre
• magnesium 125 lb./acre
• calcium 75 base sat.

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Late Summer Nitrogen Addition

• Even with legumes.
• Early August.
• 40 - 60 lb./acre of N.

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Want To Learn More?

• Join The Michigan Forage Council
• Participate In Pasture Walks
• Subscribe To Grazing Magazines
• Get On The Internet
• Go to more educational meetings like this.

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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

• Jerry Lindquist
• Osceola County Extension